Spartans Defeat Bentley in 2015 Season Opener

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 1 ranked University of Tampa baseball team opened up the 2015 season with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Bentley University Falcons. The win came at the hands of junior pitcher David Heintz.

Junior transfer Casey Scoggins recorded the first hit of the 2015 season, legging out an infield single in the bottom of the third.

The Spartans took the scoreboard in the fifth inning, sparked by a leadoff single to centerfield from Ian Townsend. A sacrifice bunt from Cody deNoyelles then advanced Townsend to scoring position, and a single off the bat of senior Nick Tindall drove him home for UT's defining lead.

After a scoreless sixth, it was again Townsend who led off the inning with a one-out single up the middle, and senior Brett Jones took his place at first base as a pinch runner. deNoyelles followed with a walk, and Tindall again came up big with an outfield single to plate Barrow and give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. A walk to Keaton Aldridge then loaded the bases, and a wild pitch scored deNoyelles to increase the lead by three. Scoggins then clinched his second hit as a Spartan, picking up another infield single and sending both Aldrige and Tindall home.

Junior righty David Heintz took the mound for the Spartans in the victory, tossing five scoreless innings before junior transfer Dylan Barrow toed the rubber in relief. Heintz allowed just three hits in 17 batters faced, striking out five.

Bentley threatened with two outs and runners on the corners in the top of the sixth, but Barrow picked up a key strikeout to end the inning. The junior allowed no hits in his debut, striking out six and walking just one.

Sophomore Logan LaPace took the mound for Tampa in the eighth, allowing just one hit before retiring the inning. The Falcons scored their first run of the year in the top of the ninth, but it would not be enough as Tampa cruised to a 5-1 victory.

Tampa will continue the three-day match-up against Bentley University on Sunday, February 1 at 1 p.m. The series will conclude with a single game set for a 3 p.m. start on Monday. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.

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